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Tokyo is a top family-friendly destination for its range of amazing activities, forward-looking transportation and technology, and delicious food!
My kid and I, along with my brother and cousin, visited Tokyo during the winter season, as part of our first-ever trip to Japan (trip recap coming soon!). It was of course cold, but a beautiful time of year to experience this bustling city. From Tokyo Station to Akihabara, we had stellar meals and enjoyed traversing the city mostly via the subway and on-foot.
As it will become abundantly clear, most of our trip was spent nostalgically pilgrimaging the iconic brands and images of our childhood: Nintendo, Sanrio, Pokemon, and Disney. We know this style of travel might not be every family’s thing, and that it barely scratches the surface of what Tokyo has to offer. What’s great about Tokyo is that there is something for everyone—we hope you find the best fit for your family!
Read on about our full experience and tips for visiting Tokyo below.
Why Visit Tokyo with Kids
Tokyo is a wonderful family-friendly destination to:
- Eat amazing food
- Practice your Japanese-speaking skills
- Ride the high-speed rail
- Visit a metropolitan city that is one of the world’s top destinations
Getting There
Tokyo is a little more than 11 hours away from the Bay Area on a nonstop flight. There are direct flights from both SFO and SJC, with our personal budget-friendly pick being Zipair.
Tokyo has two main airports: Narita and Haneda. Haneda (HND) is much closer to the city center than Narita (NRT); you can be in Tokyo Station within about 30 minutes via public transportation from Haneda, whereas from Narita it would take you about an hour to 90 minutes.
When to Visit
You’ll likely have heard visits to Japan associated with cherry blossom season in April and May, which I’m certain is a pleasant time to visit, if it weren’t for the crowds. In our opinion, any time of year is a wonderful time to visit Tokyo!
| Airfare | ~$550+ USD |
| Accommodations | ~$70-$120 USD/person/night/room |
| Transportation (Uber, bus fare) | $7 USD/person/day |
| Meals | ~$10 USD/person/day |
| Admission fees for museums | ~$45 USD/person total |
| Admission to DisneySea | ~$30-$60 USD/person |
| Checked bags | $30 USD/bag/flight |
| Shopping and souvenirs | ~$50 USD |
Before You Go
Possess valid passports
Check the State Department’s travel advisories
Book your tickets to the YAYOI KUSAMA Museum
Order currency from your bank—cash is used widely, and we had a tough time using Apple Pay at almost every establishment save for convenience stores like 7-11.
Bookmark sites in Google Maps or Wanderlog and download offline maps
Buy an e-sim to save on cellphone roaming costs
What to Pack
- Passports
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Plane ride essentials
- Travel carseat
- Umbrella stroller, if needed
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, if needed
Family-Friendly Hotels in Tokyo
Hotel rooms in Tokyo on the smaller side unless you’re willing to shell out extra money or stay on the outskirts of the city. In our case, three adults and one child shared each room.
Hotel Yae no Midori Tokyo
Great for clean accommodations near Tokyo Station
~$175/night/room
We spent only one night at Hotel Yae no Midori Tokyo but we would definitely consider staying again on a future trip. The hotel is about a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station, as well as near convenience stores and a Pokémon Center. Our room for four was slightly more spacious than the other hotel we booked in Tokyo, and we appreciated the comfy beds and extras like slippers and cozy in-room robes. Book your stay here!
Hotel Gracery Ginza
Somewhat dated but decent accommodations
~$200/night/room
We spent our last few days in Tokyo at the Hotel Gracery, and while Ginza was a convenient central location between our slated activities in Shibuya and DisneySea, its luxury shops and sports cars weren’t our scene. Overall, this was an OK-hotel.
Top Family-Friendly Activities in Tokyo
Walk through Shibuya Crossing
One of Tokyo's most iconic (and free!) sites
While at Shibuya, I’d recommend also visiting the Starbucks above the crossing (though don’t expect to find a seat—it can get crowded). Enjoy their delicious chocolate donut (we had no less than three on our trip) while people-watching the constant waves of pedestrians.
Venture Up Tokyo Skytree, Sumida City
Great for city views
~$20+ USD/ages 18+;
~$10 USD/ages 6-11;
free for ages 5 and under
3+ hours
Ah, Tokyo Skytree, a place I’ll never forget; it’s where I nightmarishly lost my passport (along with my kid’s) the night before we were to fly back to the U.S. Perhaps a story for another day. But up until the point I realized our passports were gone, my family and I were having a grand ol’ time at Skytree (except for my brother, who was sick at the hotel with COVID).
The whole journey up the Skytree elevators feeds your anticipation, and once you see sweeping views of Tokyo during golden hour, you will no doubt be awed. This was a fun way to spend our last evening in the city. Definitely book the Combo ticket that includes both the Tembo Deck & Galleria, and buy your timed entry tickets in advance online for a discount and to avoid the crowds. Also be sure to bring a postcard that you can stamp and send from the gift shop!
Kiss the Clouds at Shibuya Sky
Great for city views
~$15 USD/ages 18+;
~$5-12 USD ages 4-17
free for ages 3 and under
3+ hours
Shibuya Sky is another great alternative to Tokyo Skytree, with the added bonus of having an outdoor deck and a great view of Shibuya Crossing. My middle school-aged cousin went on a recent trip and reported back: “I really liked Shibuya Sky!! It was really crowded, but worth the wait. It is very pretty at nighttime!”
Spend a Day at DisneySea, Urayasu
Great for Disney fans and folks of all ages
~$55+ USD/adult; $32 USD/child ages 4-11
Full day
Whether or not you’re a Disney fan, the Tokyo Disney Resort, which house both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, is quite a sight to behold and definitely worth a visit. The architecture and “worlds” are impressively detailed, nostalgic, and awe-inspiring, and we had fun seeing how groups of friends and family dressed up in matching Disney-themed outfits.
We decided to visit DisneySea for its unique offerings (there’s no Disney park quite like it!), and because Tokyo Disneyland is too similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, which we’ve visited a number of times already. DisneySea is an aquatic-themed park with a huge lagoon at its center. Definitely try all the yummy food and snacks (worth their own follow-up post) like cult-favorite gourmet popcorn flavors and their collectible Disney-themed canisters. To top it off, tickets are ~$55 USD—one-third the price of Disneyland Anaheim!—and their evening show “Believe! Sea of Dreams” now tops the list of my favorite live Disney shows; yes, rising above even Fantasmic. It’s SO GOOD. Read more about our DisneySea on the blog (coming soon)!
Ride the Shinkansen
Great for getting around Japan and appreciating trains, in general
~1+ hour
Riding the train is a MUST in Tokyo and Japan, overall. Whether you stay in Tokyo or venture off to nearby cities like Kyoto and Osaka, these are arguably some of the best trains and train systems in the world, and riding them will make clear why. Trains run on time, and are fast (the Shinkansen bullet train can reach speeds of 200 mph!), orderly, and simple to navigate. One of my family’s favorite aspects of the Tokyo subway are the signs that point you to the nearest entrances and exits.
Visit Sensō-ji, Asakusa
Great for a temple visit
Free
~1 hour
Sensō-ji is known as Tokyo’s oldest and most ancient Buddhist temple. Not only are the buildings beautiful and iconic, but the campus itself is bustling with locals and tourists, some of whom are dressed in traditional Japanese attire. From here we caught our first glimpses of cherry blossom buds, as well as of nearby SkyTree tower!
Visit the YAYOI KUSAMA Museum, Shinjuku
Great for art lovers and a few hours of whimsy
~$8 USD/ages 19+; ~$5 USD/ages 6-18
4-6 hours
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is known for her whimsical dot art, pumpkins, and octopus tentacles, sometimes combining them in sculptures and paintings. Immerse yourself in Kusama’s art at a multi-story museum dedicated to her work in Shinjuku City. It was fun and engaging for the whole family. Timed-entry tickets cost less than $10 USD, but be sure to book well in advance as tickets often sell out and cannot be bought at the door.
Enjoy the Outdoors at Ueno Park
Great for walking, playgrounds, and community activities
~2+ hours
Our family loves visiting local playgrounds on our travels. Playgrounds give a chance for my kid to play outdoors, while also giving us a glimpse into the everyday lives of local families. Ueno Park is a great place to kick back, walk around, or visit other sites like the zoo and numerous museums.
During our weekend visit we had a chance to see so many families milling about; a painter doing a live art show; and a food festival featuring young dancers and entertainers, which we loved!
Visit the Nintendo Store, Shibuya
Great shopping opportunity for Nintendo fans
~30+ minutes
Yes, it’s a store. And if you have no interest in Nintendo, feel free to skip it. All I can say is, for the right crowd, it’s a great place to go souvenir shopping and be surrounded by random schwag and the biggest fans of the world’s most iconic video games. Zelda luggage tags? Check. Super Mario flatware? Check. An Animal Crossing coffee grinder? Check.
My kid has most recently developed a love of the Nintendo game, Animal Crossing, much like many-a-gamer during the COVID-19 pandemic. So it was hard to pull her away from the shelves of Animal Crossing pencil cases, mugs, and house slippers. We couldn’t resist getting her a Tom Nook t-shirt, and her dad an Animal Crossing-themed aloha shirt—after all, he was the one who got her into the game in the first place (for better or for worse, lol).
Cuddle with Critters at a Cafe, various locations
Great for animal-lovers
$10+ USD/person
~1 hour
My whole family was looking forward to visiting a cute critter cafe, one that allowed patrons to sit among cats, hedgehogs, baby pigs, you name it. After debating our options, as well as whether it was actually an inhumane practice, we decided to visit an otter cafe.
In my mind we would get to cuddle with little California sea otter-look-alikes, while sitting on a couch and sipping tea. And I don’t doubt there are probably places in Tokyo that you could do just that. But in my experience, my blood pressure and stress levels were through the roof as the weasel-like river otters yipped in the tiny cell we occupied, while I attempted to get them to stop chewing on the provided skirt and slippers I was wearing. Overall, this wasn’t my favorite activity on our trip (nor my daughter’s), but my cousin and brother enjoyed it, and we overheard another patron say, “This is the best day of my life!” as otters sat atop her head and shoulders. To each their own!
Visit a Pokémon Center, various locations
Great for Pokémon fans who want to be the very best, like no one ever was
~30+ minutes
Again, a store, but again, very well done. There are Pokémon Centers all over Tokyo, but we visited the Center across the way rom the Nintendo Store in Shibuya. My kid isn’t quite into Pokemon (yet) but she recognizes Pikachu and Jigglypuff! My brother came away with a cute Snorlax headband/eye mask.
Visit a Sanrio Store or cute cafe, various locations
Great for lovers of Hello Kitty and other characters of the iconic brand
~20 minutes
Growing up, I used any and all of my birthday money on trips to the Sanrio store at our local mall. Over the years I bought a Keroppi camera, all the Sanrio stationary ever, and a Badtz Maru jewelry case, which I still have. Almost as much as buying the gifts themselves, I loved watching the staff wrap up my purchase in cute Sanrio-themed paper, and taping a random trinket in the top corner of the package. 10/10 for cutest purchase process ever.
I cannot tell you how much I squealed with delight at all the Sanrio character sightings during our trip to Tokyo: Badtz Maru (my childhood fave), Cinnamaroll (my kid’s fave), and the iconic Hello Kitty. There was so much cute gear, aghhhhh! On one hand I wanted to buy everything, and on the other hand the minimalist in me knew that I had no business purchasing anything in the stores we visited. But that doesn’t mean I (nor my daughter) didn’t try!
The one purchase I was willing to make was a meal at a Sanrio-themed cafe, and we ended up going to the Rakkikuma-themed one in Arashiyama, near Kyoto, which I’d highly recommend (post coming soon)! We could’ve easily gone to any of the Sanrio-themed cafes in Tokyo to enjoy the cutest meals of our livesssss.
Visit the Sailor Moon Store, Shibuya
Great for fighting evil by moonlight
~20 minutes
Sailor Moon was one of my favorite shows growing up, so I couldn’t resist paying a visit to the Sailor Moon Store in Shibuya. Compared to the other shops on this list, this is more of a booth in a large mall, but it still had plenty of cute, Sailor Moon-themed swag. Our favorite thing was trying for the Sailor Moon x Sanrio character key chains in a gachapon outside the shop.
Where to Eat
Check out our kid-friendly Tokyo restaurant guide (coming soon!) for our full recs. Highlights include:
- Ishiusubiki Teuchi Kyōrakutei 蕎楽亭 for housemade soba noodles and a carefully crafted meal. Try sitting at the bar to watch the chefs in action!
- Kanda Matsuya 神田まつや 本店 for housemade soba noodles from a restaurant founded 130 years ago!
- As with every big city in Japan, we highly recommend getting delicious and affordable convenience store food from 7-11, Lawson’s, and Family Mart!
If You Have Time
Akihabara
I wasn’t as impressed by Akihabara Electric Town as I thought I would be. There were tons of electronic stores but I honestly imagined there would be more neon lights and billboards, almost like Osaka’s Dōtonbori. My favorite thing about Akihabara was getting to eat at Kanda Matsuya (see above).
Travel Mishaps
First, during our day at DisneySea, I believe my daughter and I were the only ones whooping and clapping during the evening show—no one else in the crowd clapped, so I was left to feel like I must’ve missed a cultural memo, probably fulfilling the typical trope of “that loud American.”
Then, my brother came down with COVID, and had to spend his last couple days isolating in our hotel room in Tokyo.
Finally, my daughter and I spent our last day in Tokyo at the U.S. Embassy, applying for emergency passports because I had lost ours at Tokyo Skytree the night before. Not only that, but I ran out of cash to pay for said emergency passports, so I incurred some yucky fees pulling some cash out of a nearby ATM.
Despite these wild mishaps, we had a lovely time in Tokyo!
Family-Friendly Sample Itineraries
Here's how to spend 3, 5, or 7 days in and around Tokyo. If Tokyo is only one stop on your multi-city tour, we'd recommend spending at least 3-4 days here with your family, but more if you can! Mix and match our recs as they suit your family's needs and interests.
3-DAY TOKYO ITINERARY
DAY 1: Asakusa & Sumida
- Lunch at Ishiusubiki Teuchi Kyōrakutei 蕎楽亭
- YAYOI KUSAMA Museum
- Ueno Park or Sumida Park
- Sensō-ji Temple
- Spend golden hour and the rest of your evening at Tokyo Skytree
DAY 2: Shibuya, Shinjuku, & Central Tokyo
- Chocolate donuts from Shibuya Starbucks
- Shibuya Crossing
- Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Sanrio, Sailor Moon Store
- Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Tokyo Station
DAY 3: Tokyo DisneySea
- Eat all the things and enjoy the shows!
DAY 4: Ghibli Museum
- Play, watch, and enjoy!
5-DAY TOKYO ITINERARY
The above, plus:
DAY 5: Food & Culture
- Participate in a geisha tea ceremony
- Book a traditional cooking class
- Imperial Palace
7-DAY TOKYO ITINERARY
The above, plus:
DAY 6: Tsukiji
- Eat breakfast at Tsumigi
- Watch a Kabuki or sumo wrestling
DAY 7
- Final taste of museums, gardens, or shopping (Don Quixote is where it’s at!)
Wishlist for our Next Visit
- There were a number of restaurants we had bookmarked but didn’t have the chance to visit. Definitely looking forward to a round two!
- As a sushi lover, I would love to see a fish market like the ones seen in the iconic documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi
- The Ghibli Museum looks amazing, but its location in the suburbs of Tokyo is unfortunately too much of a trek if you’re tight on time, as we were.
- We love watching shows and performances, so if my child were older I would’ve considered going to Kabuki-za to watch a traditional performance.
- Participate in a traditional geisha tea ceremony
- Sumo wrestling!
- I love looking at old palaces and would’ve visited the Imperial Palace, if only we had a little extra time.
Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet you and can’t wait for our next visit!
Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.
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